Captive population of S China tiger growing  

极危华南虎种群逐步壮大 避免近亲繁殖异地招亲

中国华南虎保护协调会19日在广东韶关召开，记者从会上获悉，目前中国人工圈养的华南虎共有120只，这标志着这个极度濒危的物种种群已得到了明显扩大。为进一步优化种群、避免近亲繁殖，华南虎保护协调委员会每年都会召开一次年会，在中国对适龄华南虎进行异地调配繁殖。

Shaoguan (CNS) -- The number of South China tigers bred in captivity has increased to 120 from only 47 in 1995, an expert said on Monday during a conference on tiger protection in Guangdong Province's Shaoguan.

There are a total of 120 individuals, 12 of which were born this year, including 56 males and 64 females bred in captivity in Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Shaoguan and 10 other areas, said Xie Zhong, deputy secretary general of the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens.

However, inbreeding has reduced genetic diversity, causing illnesses and handicaps among the tigers, Xie said, so experts have had annual gatherings to assign mates from other areas to optimize the species.

The South China tiger is classified as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.